Editorial trio retire

Reuters’ London Editorial has said farewell to three colleagues who are retiring with more than 100 years’ service between them. Journalists Charles Dick and Ralph Gowling and clerk Keith Hollands, all from the world desk at Canary Wharf, marked the occasion with a party at a nearby pub.

Sean Maguire, editor, politics and general news, praised the trio for their professionalism and commitment to the company. He brandished a photo of Dick with his fellow editorial trainees in 1974-5 and noted a number of dodgy-looking moustaches.

Hollands, with 40 years’ service, had been a stalwart whose calm voice had reassured correspondents calling from distant parts, according to one tribute read by Maguire. Dick had been appreciated for his reliable editing over many years, he said.

Charles Dick, responding for the three, recognised that he had sometimes been regarded as a grumpy, picky editor and said he would miss his colleagues but would keep in touch.

Postscript: Ralph Gowling stayed with Reuters until May 2011 to complete a number of commitments, particularly as joint National Union of Journalists Father of the Chapel in negotiations over a new job structure. The following month, then EMEA Editor Michael Stott hosted an official farewell party for Gowling who he said had won the title “The Prince of Darkness” from colleagues for anchoring the London World Desk through the night for many years. Gowling broke a good number major stories on his watch - from Princess Diana’s death to the start of conflicts in the former Soviet Union, the Balkans, the Middle East and Africa, to the big bailout for British banks in 2008, said Stott. He also covered five summer Olympics, reported from Africa and was UKI night editor. Stott said Gowling was a stickler for accuracy and good writing, and was involved in a number of editorial projects like the style guide, rewrites and lead writing.

Archive photo shows (L-R): Martin Taylor (part hidden), Paul Bolding, Robin Gedye, unidentified, Tim Sebastian, Charles Dick, David Smith, Ed Mitchell, Stephen Powell, unidentified, Steve Kettle. ■